BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

Holiday Shopping with Zappos

December 1, 2014 by jessica 9 Comments

[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]I[/dropcap] don’t know about you, but I still have plenty of people to check off my holiday shopping list. The thought of spending hours scouring multiple sites for the perfect presents is overwhelming, which is why I’m wrapping up my gift giving with a single shopping destination for clothes, shoes, accessories, and more: Zappos.

I recently had the opportunity to experience just how stress-free shopping with Zappos could be. As part of a collaboration with the retailer, bloggers were paired up for a Zappos Present Palooza and tasked with purchasing a present that suits the style of her giftee. I was partnered with Jessica over at Lipstick, Heels and a Baby. The gorgeous momma-to-be and I have pretty different styles, which was a little daunting at first. (No one wants to give someone a gift she doesn’t love!) But I’m happy to share that Zappos made it easy to find a gift to brighten her holiday. Once I narrowed down the product category to Bags & Handbags, I was able to sift through the results by brand (the gal loves Rebecca Minkoff!), color, and price to find this beautiful crossbody. I still had part of my budget left, so I headed off to the jewelry section in search of a pair of earrings. It seems that Jessica and I were on the same wavelength! I received this darling Kate Spade crossbody bag in Saffiano leather (see it in action here) and a pair of earrings by the brand. If you’re not sure where to start, the Zappos Gift Guide has plenty of ideas to delight those on your list.

After you’ve made your selections, Zappos makes it easy to send the items directly to the recipient with fast, free shipping. (Consider signing up for Zappos VIP service for free next business day shipping.) If your gifts somehow fall short, Zappos offers a 365-day return policy and world-class customer service to make sure your loved ones are ecstatic about their gifts (or their exchanges if it comes to that). Happy Shopping!

This post is sponsored by Zappos. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Bedknobs & Baubles possible.

Holiday Gift Guide | The Glamper

December 1, 2014 by jessica 3 Comments

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MORE GIFTS FOR THE GLAMPER ON PINTEREST

Bauble of the Week

November 30, 2014 by jessica 3 Comments

[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]I[/dropcap] thought you might be interested in one more post-Thanksgiving sale if you haven’t done enough damage to your wallet already! Sarah Magid’s edgy jewelry is 30% off with code GoldFriday through December 1. I can’t get enough of the striking combination of blue sandstone and purple agate in this pair of earrings and this set of stacking rings.

Weekend Guide

November 29, 2014 by jessica Leave a Comment

SAVE
If you haven’t recorded all of your family’s cherished recipes, now’s the time. Pick a pretty recipe box and start transcribing those stained recipe cards. (It’s also a thoughtful gift for the newlyweds in your family.)

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DECORATE
I can’t get over how much I love the cat garland I found online via a UK retailer. Don’t fret. I found it here too.

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WEAR
This pint-size fashionista is on point. Nothing is better than mint and navy.

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SNOOZE
Catch your ZZZs in a set of zebra-print pajamas.

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SHOP
Don’t miss out on Gray Malin’s incredible sale this weekend. Take 30% off prints sitewide and apply that discount to framing. I purchased this print for my birthday last May.

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SIP
Peppermint. White. Russian. OMG.

Budget Update

November 28, 2014 by jessica 2 Comments

[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]W[/dropcap]orking on a budget update is a pretty good kick in the rear to stop shopping for myself on Black Friday! I didn’t do too terribly this month, but I’ve nearly spent my entire budget and I still have three months to go. Sheesh… Sounds like I need to start hustling to earn more money! On the upside, we were given the details of our holiday bonuses last week, which certainly made my decision to splurge on this bracelet earlier today a bit more justifiable. (I’ll add it to the budget next month when it arrives.)

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THE BUDGET

I started with a six-month budget of $1,500. I consider blog revenue and eBay sales to be “fun money” and will add a portion of that additional income to my overall seasonal budget (if it doesn’t end up in my travel fund first). I’ll record any budget increases or expenditures here each month. Anything that has been ordered and has not yet arrived will appear on the next budget update. (There will also be an annual “Tax Refund Splurge” that goes above my budget, but I’ll devote a post to that in January.)

$1,500 starting budget
+ $200 added to the budget this season ($0 this month)
– $1579.05 spent this season ($265.60 this month)
= $120.95 remaining

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WARDROBE UPDATE

View all of my purchases (that I can find stock photos for) on my fall and winter wardrobe Pinterest board.

Clothing:

Ted Baker opulent bloom skirt ($248)
LOFT scuba flare skirt in navy and black ($98.70)
J.Crew Tippi sweater in black ($62.90)
Theory Dreeden sweater in charcoal ($130)
J.Crew Regent blazer in heather carbon ($138.60)
NEW Tory Burch scarab-print blouse ($137.12): Nordstrom Rack will be the death of my budget.
NEW Anthropologie golden flowervine tank ($98): My family gatherings are pretty casual, so I wanted something that was festive without being too dressy. I love how this top looks with a black a-line skirt or a pair of cigarette pants and its versatility means it will probably be more worn many times throughout the season.

Shoes & Accessories:

Prada sunglasses ($204)
DVF sunglasses ($50)
Tory Burch Bedford flats in cobalt snakeskin ($206.25)
Tory Burch metallic lace minaudiere ($175)
NEW Tory Burch chevron drop earring ($16.50): I received a $50 gift card from the company, which was a wonderful holiday surprise, even if it was probably a reward for shopping so much with them in the last year! Since I’ve already done so much damage this season, I put it toward a pair of earrings that were already on sale. I didn’t expect much from them, but I’m actually delighted with how pretty they are in person. They’re a great option for a lightweight statement piece. (You can see them on a model here.)
NEW Sabine post bar earrings ($13.98): These were a ride along item to qualify for a discount on this backordered dress. I think I’ll get plenty of wear out of them.

Gifted Items:
This section sort of comes off as braggy, which isn’t my intention. Blogging is getting less and less transparent and I want to be clear with what I’ve purchased and what items I’ve received as part of a collaboration. I’m awfully picky about the brands I work with–and won’t post items I don’t love–so rest assured these are solid.

Items I tried this month, but didn’t purchase:

French Connection sequin dress: I thought a peach sequin dress would be an unexpected holiday dress for Dave’s company cocktail party. I just didn’t expect it to be neon pink and yellow in person.
ASOS sleeveless shift: I wanted more loose shift dresses to wear to work, but this one didn’t work out. It was too large on top and the wide straps were unflattering. I didn’t love it enough to bring it to the tailor.
Banana Republic gray flannel fit-and-flare skirt: So bummed about this! The skirt was incredibly short in person and barely covered my bum. The tall would have given me two more inches, but the flannel was on the thin side and I just didn’t think it was worth it.
Faribault x Target wool scarf in cannon stripe: I know I’m an outlier with this, but I’m not a huge fan of the ubiquitous Zara blanket scarf. This scarf looked like such a cute alternative with what appeared to be heather grey and white. It’s a shame the scarf was a mossy green and cream in person. Pass.
1.State Pleated Jersey Skirt: The pleats on this added bulk rather than feminine volume and the color is a bit more drab in person.

Donated or sold:

5 dresses
3 pairs of shoes
1 skirt
3 handbags
3 belts
a boatload of old costume jewelry from places like H&M and Forever21

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HOW ARE YOU DOING?

Fran does a great job of linking to budget bloggers each month and I strongly encourage you to take part. I hope you’ll also share links to your wardrobe recaps here. I’m always curious to learn how others curate their closets!